The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-05-19
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, d. C., April 13, 1887.
The reunion of the Army of the
Cumberland. the Anne rican Surgical
Association, and the annual cenven-
tion OF Il otel Proprietors are the most
iao portant gatherings of the week in
this popular rendezvous of all kinds of
National interests.
TWAS the eighth annual convention
of Mine hosts" of the American
travelling public, and the primary OBJ
ject of their meetings is to give the
proprieters, managers and clerks of
hotels chance to talk over matters
of mutual interest. They all want to
kDow, you know, the best manner Of,
getting rid of dead beats, and about all
kinds of fire escapes and such things,
In addition to this Interchange of ex-
perience, Information and ideas,
mutual benefit insurance association
is carried on, and during the seven
years of its existence the association
has paid out to its beneficiaries the
sum Of $7737l.
1t is seldom that so many epicures
meet around one table as banqueted
together in the large dining saloon of
Wizards hotel on Wednesday night.
The banquet was given to the visiting
Bonifaces by the local hotel proprie.
tors, and such feast it was as filled
the guests with enthusiasm and
prompted them to give the palm to
Washington for entertainment. Near
ly two hundred proprietors and man
ayers, representing the leading cities
and leading hotels in the United
States, and q few specially invited
guests composed the company. The
tables and the room were profusely
decorated with cut flowers and petted
plants, and here and there stood i'm
mense specimens of the confectioners 8
art in fanciful and appropriate designs.
The menu was very choice. and the
company was a jovial one, hardly
needing the inspiration of the band,
which discoursed popular music from
an adjoining room.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock before
feasting gave way to oratory. 1.-THE
President of the United States" was
the first toast, proposed by Toastmaste1
Garrison, the ex-president of the as.
sociation. To this Gen. Black, the
Commissioner of pensions, responded
iD all eloquent strain twenty minutes
long. He never once mentioned the
name of any particular President, but
he painted graphic picture, easily
recognizable, of Lincoln as he remem
bered him away back in 1850, when
as a lawyer, he used occasionally te
visit the little frontier village in East
ern Illinois, which was Gen. Black.
home. He painted Lincoln in hi.
rustic simplicity and his homespur
suit as an instance that Presidents dC
and then, enlarging upon the power
and the greatness Of the Presidentia
office and prOnouncing the President
of the United States the foremost mar
to enthusiastic applause.
F Yesterday the visitors were taken or
drive to the Soldiers Home, at nooI
they had an interview with the Presi
: dent at the Whits House, in the after
D noon they had a sail to Mount Vernon
in the evening they were taken to tn,
theatres. and today they are having
round of the public buildings.
The chief event of the reunion her
of the Army of the Cumberland wa
, the unveiling of the statue of Garfield
: which took place today amid mposin,
ceremonies. There was an immens
,, concourse of peopre at the unveiling
and the President and Mrs. Cleveland
} occupied seats on the Grand stand
while Mr.. Keifer, who once figured
|, here as Speaker of the House, you re
\ member, and who, for some inscruta
> BILE reason, was chosen orator of tn,
day, was there to perform his part
; Gen. Sheridan, the President of tn
, society of the Army of the Cumber
1 land, rode in a carriage in the parad
> with Gems. Sherman, Buell. and Ros
encrapz., the three surviving of th
l five commanders who succeeded on,
!, another at the head of the Army O
the Cumberland.
Q Among the busy preparations TO
3 the Drill is the pyrorama which will
g ha v hihtfoH nonh rntnht ~
will represent the naval battle il
Hampton Roads between the Merrima
. and Monitor. Unlike q panorama
. the war vessels in this case are real
are fired, depicting the shock and fir
of battle vividly. The illusion is sucl
1 that the spectator seems to be stand
: ing on the shore of Hampton Roads
In the distance can be seen FOrtree
Monroe and a number Of the fedsrs
fleet anchored near by. The dram
r opens by the appearance of the Cum
, berland, which sails in under full sal
and tacking around drops anchor
The Merrimac then appears and tn
work of destruction begins. endin
: with the battle between the Merrima
and Monitor, and the final burning o
the Merrimac. The flames leap to tn
rigging, apparently, thus mimicin,
. the awful splendor of the thrillin,
scenes in Hampton Roads.
!, nu.f u -
If workingmen want reform, not O
the pinch beck kind-the kind that th
polite schemers howl about whel